AUSTIN, Texas (AP) -April 21, 2012 (WPVI) -- Country music legend Willie Nelson helped unveil a statue honoring him in downtown Austin by singing his new song "Roll Me Up and Smoke Me When I Die" on Friday, a date long reserved to celebrate marijuana use.

The faint smell of marijuana smoke wafted through a crowd of about 2,000 people as Austin Mayor Lee Leffingwell accepted on the privately funded statue as a gift from a private arts group. Organizers said they didn't intentionally choose April 20 for the event, but once they found out, they scheduled the unveiling at 4:20 p.m. as a tongue-in-cheek reference to Nelson's openness about his marijuana use and advocacy for its legalization.

The statute stands in front of the Moody Theater, where the Austin City Limits Studio is now located. Nelson, a 10-time Grammy Award winner who has sold more than 40 million copies of his 150 albums, appeared on the first episode of the public television show in 1974.

"He is the man who more than other made Austin the live music capital of the world," Leffingwell said.

Nelson was born in Abbott, a tiny town about 120 miles north of Austin, but he has lived in Texas' capital city since 1971.

That’s true. Lots of performers don’t write their hit songs. But Willie’s recording of it is the best one out there. Another one he didn’t write — Townes Van Zandt wrote it — but which is excellent is the Ballad of Poncho and Leftie. His version is only topped by Emmylou Harris’s, which I think is the definitive one:

Remember when Willie showed up in Nashville to audition for the Grand Ole Opry? They told him he couldn’t sing and should go back to Texas. Somehow he persevered and did sing at the Opry for some time. I remember seeing a clean-cut guy with a cowboy hat and boots at the Opry in 1964. It was Willie Nelson.

65
posted on 04/21/2012 11:24:17 AM PDT
by WVNan
("Socialism is the philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy." - Winston)

Willie is an excellent song writer and that is what really got him started, imo. Some of the more famous include: "Night Life", (Ray Price); "Funny How Time Slips Away" (Billy Walker); "Hello Walls" (Faron Young); "Pretty Paper" (Roy Orbison); "Crazy" (Patsy Cline). After he moved to Texas and semi retired he got into the 'Outlaw Country' scene and the rest is history, so to speak.

Trigger, Willie's 'ol guitar has seen many miles and has the wear and tear to show for it. It also has been signed by a few other famous artist.

The Feds didn’t get anything but money from him. The IRS had tacked about $10 million in penalties on $1 million in taxes. (Not really sure about the exact figure.) He eventually paid them the original tax bill.

Seems like I remember some farmer bought the club and held it until Willie and the IRS settled the claim. Then Willie bought it back.

I met his golf pro on a movie set. He offered to give me free lessons at Willie’s place. Like a fool I didn’t take him up on it.

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